Cleaning fluid container and applicator



April 29, 1952 R. N. CARVALHO 2,594,729

CLEANING FLUID CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR Filed July 28, 1948 INVENTOR. [eshe [1.1K ('aTVaZiw Patented Apr. 29, 1952 CLEANING FLUID CONTAINER AND APPLICAEOR Leslie-K N. Carvalho, Little'RockfA'rk. Application July 28, 1948, Serial No. 41,055

1. -My present-invention relates tolacleaning fluid container and applicator. and aim to provide certain improvements therein.

Although the device of my invention. is. primarily intended for use in removing 'spots'and stains from fabrics, Wearing appareland the like,

it will be apparent that it may-be used in applying any liquid in a thin film to any surface, for example, in applying perspiration inhibitin or deodorizing liquids, cosmetic lotions and the liketo the surface of the skin.

As most of such liquids contain volatile constituents it is highly desirable thatthe aplicator provide a closurefor thecontainer which will prevent or reduce toa minimum evaporation loss of the liquid, while- 'at the same time permit suiiicientfiow of the liquid to the applicator when'thecontai'ner is in verted or tilted during use thereof.

Accordingly, theprimary object of my invention is the provision of an improved combined liquid container and applicator. A further objectis to .provide a device of the character set forth, in which the applicator may be simply and efiiciently applied as a unit to the container after the latter is filled with the desired liquid. A still furtherobject is to provide a device 'of the character 'set forth which will insure a liquidtight seal between the applicator carrier and'the cor'itaiiierso as to preclude leakage betweensaid parts when the container is inverted or tilted during use or shipment. A still further object is to provide an applicator which will reduce to a minimum evaporation loss of the liquid contents from the container in the event that the closure cap is inadvertently not replaced ontheco'ntainer after use. A still further object is to provide such device which will be so cheapas to permit being discarded after the liquidcontents'o'f the container have been used up.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention not specifically enumerated I accomplish by providing in a device of the characterdescribed 'anapplicato'r in the form of a'plug of suitable densely felted material adapted to be-friction'ally held in a sealing cup formed of material which is adapted to providea liquid-tight'seal with 'a container, said sealing cup having'aperforation in its bottom through'which liquid may reachthe applicator by slow absorption or capillary action and thereby carry just the requisite 'quantityof liquid to the exposed end of the fapplicatorior its intended use. Preferably, also, the applicator "is of a diameter to initially frictionallyengage withina'nd be held by the closure cap s'o'that the closure 'cap,"app1icator and sealing c'up may be 3 Claims. (0115-434) pre -assembled and applied as'aunitto'imehon tainer with an' applying force transmitted through the cap andthe' applicator tothe"sealin'g cup and also directly through the cap t'o"the sealing cup to provide aliqu'id tight seal between the cup and the container. 7

The invention will be better 'und'ersto'od'from the detailed description whichfoll'owswheni'considered in connection 'with the accompanying drawings, Wherein- Figure 1 is an elevation ofa device embodying my invention, the neck 'and parts- "associated therewith being showninsection.

Fig. 2 is a diametrical section Itlir'ou'ghthe'closure cap, applicator and clip "assembly prior "to attachment to the contai'ne'r.

li ig. 3 is-a fragmental view 'simil'artqEig. 1 illustrating a modified -:'form' of the-bupfsupport for the applicator. V I v Referring firstto Figsil'and'? o'rthe drawings, the numeral it indicates a container ma'de of sheet metal having a neckjpo'rtion I! "provided with screw-threads l2, the outer end'df'th'e neck portion being bent firstradially inwardly "and then axially inwardly to'provide respectively a topfinish [3 for the containerf'a'nd are-"entrant annular flange M disposed sub'stant'ially'con'centrio with the neck portion.

Frictionally held by. the re-entrant annular flange i4 is a cup-shaped sealing "member 1 5 having an opening 16 in itsfbottom andani'outwardly extending flange "'l-l atits'top. The cupshaped member [5 is preferably formedb'f'deiormable packing materialandiis. fofcefittediinto the neck of the container to. provide a liqufd 'tight seal between 'the outer'surface of the cup wall and the inner surface of the re-entiaiitflahge.

It is also desirable that in the course o'f'suh force-fitting operation that a liquid-tight sealibe made between the-flange onthe cupand'the top finish l3 of the container. Although the cupshaped mem-bermay be 'formed of various substances I prefer tomake the same from-relatively stiff resinous plastic material which willfibeeith'er non-reactive to the liquid contentsofthe icon- -tainer or reactive to the extent that it will swell upon contact with the liquid contentsof -thecontainer to enhance the liquid-tightsealbetween the cup wall and-theire-entrant flange. Annaterial which I have found eminentlysui-tableIfor this purposeis polyethylene.

7 -Mounted to be frictionally held within the cup shaped member His a plug T8 of a densly compacted absorbent material, said plug fillingthe cup andprojecting beyond the top thereof 'to'an extent less than the depth of the cup. Although the plug 18 may be formed in various ways I prefer to use a cylindrical plug of dense felt which will have a slow absorption characteristic and capillary action such as to carry just the requisite quantity of liquid to the exposed end of the plug for its intended purpose when the container is inverted, tilted or shaken to permit the liquid contents to pass through the opening IS in the base of the cup.

A closure cap l9 having internal screw-threads 20 adapted to engage the screw-threads l2 on the neck of the container is adapted to be applied over said neck to enclose the same and the applicator plug I8 and also hold the flange ll of the cup in liquid sealing engagement with the top finish H! of the container. The closure cap I9 may be formed of any suitable dimensionally stable material which is non-reactive with the contents of the container and has an internal socket 2! of a size to frictionally engage the projecting portion of the plug l8, and a shoulder 22 adapted to bear against the flange l1 when the cap is screwed home on the neck of the container.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings the flange Ha on the cupeshaped member I5 is formed with a plurality of annular beads or ribs 23 which will give when the cap is screwed home, thereby providing a tighter seal between said flange Ho and the top finish iii of the container. 7

Although the cup and applicator plug 18 may be mounted in, the container neck in successive stages I prefer to assemble the cap, the plug and the cup as a unit and mount the plug and the cup into the container simultaneously with the application of the cap to the container after the latter is filled with the desired liquid. Such assembly unit is shown in Fig. 2 wherein the applicator plug [3 is first frictionally mounted within the cup, filling the same, and the projecting portion of said plug is then frictionally mounted within the socket 2| of the cap whereby the plug functions to holdthe cup and cap in assembled relation.

thereby forced into the opening provided by said re-entrant flange, in the course of which application the material of the cup is either slightly deformed or the flange gives" radially outwardly to a slight extent to provide a liquid-tight seal between the cup wall and the flange. Also, as the cap is screwed home, the flange I! on the cup is pressed tightly against the top finish of the container thereby providing a second seal between the cup and the container. There being a greater area of frictional engagement between the plug and the cup than between th plug and the cap, it will be appreciated that after the cap has been screwed home onto the container to apply the cup and the plug to said container, the cap may be unscrewed without withdrawing either the plug or the cup from the container.

In the use of the device the cap I9 is removed and the container is inverted or shaken so as to cause an absorption of liquid by the plug. The

exposed end of the plug is then rubbed over the surface upon which a film of the contained liquid is to be applied. Where the liquid is a cleaning fluid the applicator will be actively rubbed over the stain in the material or fabric to re- 1 move the stain therefrom. Where a deodorant or perspiration inhibiting agent is employed, a light rubbing of the applicator over the skin serves to supply the requisite film of liquid for its intended purpose. In the manner of use of the device as described, it will be appreciated that the intended use of the liquid contents can be accomplished without waste and, upon completion of the application, the cap is reapplied, thereby sealing the container against any loss of the liquid contents by evaporation. The densely felted plug l8 will also serve to a substantial degree to prevent evaporation or volatilization of the liquid contents from the container in the event that the cap is inadvertently not replaced on the container.

Although I have shown and described two embodiments of my invention and several intended applications thereof, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to either the use of any specific liquid or any intended application of the device, and that changes in constructional details thereof may be made within the range of mechanical skill without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a container having a neck with an open mouth and means on the exterior of th neck for engagement with a closure cap, a deformable cup-shaped member having an opening in its base and an outwardly extending flange at its top frictionally engaging within the open neck and over the mouth of the container and providing therewith a liquid-tight seal, a plug of denselyv compacted absorbent material frictionally held within and filling the cup and projecting beyond the top thereof to an extent less than the depth of the cup, and a removable closure cap engaging over the engagement means on the exterior of the container neck, the cap having an internal socket the wall of which frictionally engages the projecting end of the plug and an internal shoulder engaging the flange on the cup and operating to hold said flange in liquid-tight engagement with the mouth of the container, the frictional engagement between the projecting portion of the plug and the socket in the cap being less than the frictional engagement between the plug and the cap, whereby, when the cap is removed from the container, the plug will remain in the cup and extending beyond the top of the container.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container has an externally screw-threaded neck and a re-entrant annular flange substantially concentric with said neck, and the cup-shaped member is force-fitted within the neck of the container and provides a leak-tight seal with the re-entrant flange thereof wherein the flange on the cup-shaped member also forms a liquid-tight seal with the top of the container between the neck and the re-entrant flange.

3. In combination, a unit assembly consisting of a cup-shaped member of deformable packing material having an opening in its bottom and an outwardly extending flange at its top, a plug of absorbent material frictionally held within and filling the cup and projecting beyond the top thereof to an extent less than the depth of the cup and a cap member having an internal socket, an internal shoulder and means for holding the cap onto a container, the projecting portion of the plug being frictionally held within the socket of the cap and operating to hold the cup-shaped member to the cap, so that thecap, cup-shaped member and absorbent material may be attached as a unit to a container.

LESLIE R. N. CARVALHO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the. file of this patent:

Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kahn Oct. 3, 1905 Unruh Feb. 25, 1919 Brennan Dec. 31, 1935 Kirmes Mar. 18, 1941 Punte Aug. 24, 1943 Scott Feb. 18, 1947 

